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Sir Alex: Family bereavement key to United exit

Sir Alex Ferguson: Manchester United managerial legend

Sir Alex Ferguson admits he would have stayed on longer as Manchester United manager had it not been for the death of his sister-in-law.

The 73-year-old Scot shocked the football world in May 2013 when he announced his decision to stand down as Manchester United boss after 26 years in charge – having delivered the club’s 20th top-flight league title and 37 other trophies.

David Moyes was appointed as Ferguson’s successor but his reign lasted just 10 months before he was sacked in April last year as United failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since the 1995-96 season.

Dutchman Louis van Gaal was charged with the task of bringing the glory days back to Old Trafford when he took over after last year’s World Cup, but Ferguson has revealed had it not been for the death of his wife Cathy’s twin sister, Bridget Robertson, he could still be in the hot seat.